What era are bankers lamps from?
The first patent for a banker’s lamp was filed on 11 May 1909 by Harrison D. McFaddin and were produced and sold under the brand name Emeralite (“emerald” and “light”). Emeralite lamp shades were produced by the J. Schreiber & Neffen factory located in the city of Rapotín, Moravia.
How do I find out the brand of my vintage lamp?
Antique Lamp Supply recommends picking up the lamp and looking for a manufacturer’s symbol, name or date stamp embedded into the base. Also look on the lighting fixture itself; sometimes, the manufacturer includes a sticker that includes the name, or date of manufacture.
What is the purpose of a bankers lamp?
But there’s no evidence that it’s any better for you than any other light, or that it’s any less harmful, because light is light.” Banker’s lamps were the blue-light blocking glasses of their day, marketed for their (supposed) health and lifestyle benefits.
How do you identify an art Deco lamp?
Identifying key Art Deco style elements
- Glass panels obscuring the light bulb.
- Faceted forms with stepped fan details.
- Cascading tiered silhouettes, large-scale fixtures.
- Slipper-style shades, ornately cast etched glass detailing.
Why are bankers lamps green?
The color was thought to encourage positive emotions, energy and focus. Light from early-20th century light bulbs was sometimes too glaring and could cause eye strain, so the green glass had a protective purpose. This is also why bankers or accountants at the time wore green eye shades.
What kind of lamp is a bankers lamp?
The vintage Bankers Lamp (the Emeralite) remains one of the most iconic lamp designs in history. The most popular Emeralites are the ones with the characteristic emerald green shades from the prewar period (WW2). Original lamps in good condition are few and far between.
How did the Emeralite lamp become so popular?
By adding in some effective marketing, the emeralite became more than just a lamp, it became an elegant and stylish tool, thought to improve worker efficiency by lessening eyestrain and promoting concentration and focus. One also has to take into account that the emeralite became a symbol of elegance in the prewar period.
How much is a 1920s meralite lamp worth?
Although this model was produced since 1916, a lot of these lamps are from the late 1920s or early 1930s, when it was given an updated design on the base. You should not pay more than around $450 for a B model E meralite in a good condition from this production series.
Where do I find the decals on my Emeralite lamp?
The decals are usually found on the back of the lamps shade and have a beige/yellow color and a red circle, in which the Emeralite logo is written in bold green letters. In addition to the logo, you should find the production series number, as well as a made in USA/Czechoslovakia (the shades were made in former Czechoslovakia).